Diamond-cover for base-ball fields.



W. MUDONALD.

DIAMOND COVER FOR BASE BALL FIELDS.

11221110112101: FILED MAR. a, 1911.

1,052,498. Y Patented Feb. 11,1913.

W MEZZZM j All'y.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH CO.,WAH!NOTON, n. c.

WTLLIAM MCDONALD, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

DIAMOND-COVER FOR BASE-BALL FIELDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

Application filed March 3, 1911. Serial No. 612,204.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, WVILLIAM MCDONALD, a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have? invented certain new and useful Improvements in Diamond-Covers for Base-Ball} Fields, of which the following is a specifi-j cation, reference being had therein to the;

accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a diamond cover? for base-ball fields, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a novel reel upon which a cover can be wound, the reel beingconstructed whereby the cover can be easily and quickly unwound from the reel when it is desired to spread the same upon the field. I

Another object of this invention is to furnish a reel with positive and reliable means, in a manner as will be hereinafter described for winding a folded diamond: cover upon the reel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a reel of the above type that can be located in proximity to a grandstand toi occupy a comparatively small space upon a;

- vas, cover or tarpaulln made of water proof baseball field.

A still further object of the invention is to accomplish the above results by a device that is simple in construction, easy to install, durable, and highly efiicient for the purposes for which it is intended.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device,=

and Fig. 2 is .a plan of the same showing the canvas or cover in a laid or extended position. v

The reference numerals 1 and 2 denote standards having the upper ends thereof provided with bearings 3 for a longitudinal revoluble shaft 4. This shaft adjacent to ,the standards 1 is provided with drums 5.

; The shaft 1 adjacent to one of the standards 2 has a loosely mounted gear wheel 6 and this wheel is fixed for-rotation with the shaft 4 through the medium of a conventional form of clutch 7 slidably mounted upon the shaft 4 and adapted to rotate therewith, said clutch being shifted into engagement with the hub of the gear wheel 6 whenvsaid gearwheel is to rotate with said shaft.

Arranged between the standards 1 and 2 at one end of the device is a pedestal 8 and mounted upon said pedestal is an electric motor'9 having the armature shaft 10 thereof provided with a small gear wheel 11 meshing with the gear wheel 6.

Journaled in the standards 2 and the pedestal 8 is a longitudinal shaft 12 and mounted upon this shaft between the standards 2 is a large reel 13.-

Loosely mounted upon the shaft 12 between the pedestal 8 and the standard 2 is a gear wheel 141 meshing with the gear Wheel 11, and this gear wheel is fixed for rotation upon the shaft 12 similar to the clutch 7.

The reference numeral 16 denotes a canmaterial, said canvas being rectangular in plan and corresponding in area to the diamond or infield of a baseball ground. Attached to one edge of the canvas 16 is a cable 17 having the other end thereof attached to the reel 13, intermediate the ends thereof, as at 18. Attached to the ends of the reel 13 are cables 19 and these cables extend under the canvas 16 and are attached to the same, as at 20 adjacent to the outer edge of the canvas. The cables 19 after beby a clutch 15 ing fastened to the under side of the canvas pass over pulleys or sheaves 21 and havethe ends thereof fastened and wound upon the drums 5. The pulleys 0r sheaves 21 are carried by posts or stakes 22 driven or suitably anchored in the ground at the outer edges of the infield. Prior to winding the canvas upon the reel 13, opposite edges thereof are adapted to be folded inwardly upon the dot ordash lines 23.

To wind the canvas upon the reel 13, the clutch 7 is thrown out of engagement with the gear wheel 6 and the clutch 15 placed in engagement with the gear wheel 14:- The motor 9, which is supplied with current from a suitable source of electrical energy, is placed in operation and as the reel 13 is revolved the cables 17 and 19 are wound thereon until the end of the canvas reaches the reel when the canvas will be wound upon said reel. The cables 17 and 19 properly feed the canvas on tothe reel and as the canvas is wound thereon the cables 19 unwind from the drums 5.

To unwind the canvas and spread it upon the field, the clutch 15 is thrown out and the clutch 7 thrown in. When the motor 91 is started the cables 19 wind upon the drums 5 and unwind from the reel 13 until the can vas has been placed in an extended position. The side edges of the canvas can then be unfolded.

Inasmuch as the gear wheel 11 is in con-' stant mesh with the gear wheels 6 and 14, it; will be readily understood that if both} clutches are thrown into engagement, both: reel and drums will be moved in directions to wind the cables thereon, with the result that the cover will be drawn taut in the; desired position. i

It is preferable to attach the sheaves or? pulleys 21 to the stakes 22 whereby they can be removed after the canvas has been wound upon the reel, thereby preventing; the cables from interfering with the play upon the infield.

The device can be embodied in the grandstand of a baseball ground or other shelter can be provided for the canvas when not in use.

What I claim is a a 1. An apparatus for protecting a baseball field, comprising a protecting-cover, a reel upon which the cover is wound, a rot-atable shaft mounted at one side of the reel,

drums keyed on said shaft, a motor, gearing, between said motor and reel and shaft, means for throwing either the reel or shaft out of; gear with the motor; together with pulleys anchored on the base-ball field, and ropes attached to the outer end of the coverpassed' around said pulleys and attached to the, drums, substantially as shown and described;

2. An apparatus for protecting a baseball field, comprising a cover having side flaps folding upon the body portion; a reel corresponding in length, approximately, with v the width of the cover between the flaps and upon which the folded cover is wound, a rotatable shaft mounted at one side of the reel; winding-spools or drums keyed on said vshaft and located some distance beyond the ends of the reel; amotor; gearing between said. motor and aforesaid reel and shaft, and

means for throwing the reel or shaft out of gear with the motor; together with pulleys anchored on the base-ball field, and ropes attached to the outer end of the cover passed around said pulleys and attached to the drums.

3. An apparatus for protecting the infield or diamond of a base-ball field, comprising a cover or tarpaulin of a size to cover the diamond or infield, a reel located a considerable distance back of the home-plate of the diamond and beyond the inner end of the protecting-cover when spread, ropes connecting the cover to the reel for drawing it up to said reel for winding thereon, drums and means for supporting the same, pulleys anchored out on the base-ball field, ropes attached to the outer end of the cover passed around said pulleys and attached to the drums, and means for turning the reel and drums.

4:. An apparatus for protecting the infield or diamond of a base-ball field, comprising a cover or tarpaulin of a size to cover the infield or diamond and having side flaps folding upon the body portion; a reel corresponding in length, approximately, with the width of the cover between the flaps and upon which the folded cover is wound, said reel being located a considerable distance back of the home-plate of the diamond beyond the inner end of the protecting cover when spread upon the field; ropes connecting the body portion of the cover to the reel for drawing the folded cover up to said reel for winding thereon; winding-spools or drums supported beyond the ends of the reel; pulleys anchored on the base-ball field under the flaps near the outer corners thereof, and ropes attached to the body portion of the cover and extending at an outward angle to and around the pulleys and back to the drums to which they are attached; together with means for turning the reel and winding-spools or drums.

5. An apparatus for protecting the infield or diamond of a base-ball field, comprising a cover or tarpaulin of a size to cover the diamond or infield and having side flaps folding upon the body portion; a reel corresponding in length, approximately, with the width of the cover between the flaps and upon which the folded cover is wound, said reel being located a considerable distance back'of the home-plate of the diamond and beyond the inner end of the protecting-cover when spread upon the field; ropes connecting the body portion of the cover to the reel for drawing the folded cover up to said reel for win-ding thereon; a shaft longer than the reel and located at one side of the same, drums keyed on said shaft and located beyond the ends of the reel, a motor-driven shaft geared to the reel and aforesaid drumshaft, and clutches for throwing the drum- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature shaft and reel out of connection with the in the presence of two witnesses. motor-driven shaft; together with pulleys WILLIAM MCDONALD anchored out on the base-ball field, and

5 ropes attached to the cover some distance Witnesses:

from the outer end thereof passed around MAX H. SROLOVITZ. the pulleys and attached to the drums. J OHN C. LANGKAMP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

